| Last updated on October 2nd, 2023
eBay Mastercard®
eBay Mastercard®
eBay Mastercard®
- 25.24%, 29.24%, or 32.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The eBay Mastercard® is ideal for heavy eBay shoppers that spend at least $1,000 through their online marketplace each year. Earn points on every transaction and redeem them for discounts at the eBay checkout – includes taxes and shipping costs.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Up to 5X points per dollar spent at eBay
- 2X points at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Must have an eBay account in order to apply
- Regular Purchase APR: 25.24%, 29.24%, or 32.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99%
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: $29
- You're an eBay merchant or collector
- You spend over $1,000 at eBay per calendar year
- You conduct the bulk of your eBay purchases during the first half of the year
- You'll pay your credit card balance in full every month
eBay Mastercard® Review
The eBay Mastercard® from Synchrony has the potential to be lucrative for fans of the online marketplace. Still, cardholders must spend a pretty penny before unlocking the card’s most worthwhile benefits. Despite this hurdle, the card presents the only opportunity for frequent shoppers to earn any rewards towards eBay through external purchases.
While handy, the hyper-specific nature of the redemption methods limits the card’s usability to all but the most frequent eBay users. There are several notable limitations of the eBay Mastercard® as a financial or savings tool, namely the lack of the ability to conduct balance transfers and sky-high APRs. But as is the case with the co-branded retail cards issued by Synchrony Bank, this card is meant to offer rewards for shopping—and little else.
No Introductory 0% APR Offer + a High APR = Could be Trouble
Sadly, the eBay Mastercard® doesn’t offer anything by means of financial support for someone planning an eBay shopping spree. There is no 0% introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers –this card can’t conduct balance transfers at all.
How to Earn eBay Rewards Points
The eBay Mastercard® has common bonus categories typical of other cards offered by Synchrony Bank. It allows cardholders to earn rewards for offline purchases with bonuses for gas station, grocery store, and restaurant purchases and awards users most highly for eBay purchases.
- 3X/5X points at eBay
- 2X points at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 1X points everywhere else
The Tricky “eBay” Category
However, one of the biggest challenges of this card is cardholders have to jump through hoops to unlock the 5X rewards rate. Essentially, the eBay bonus category can be thought of in two phases: a $1,000 spending requirement is the tipping point. At the beginning of the calendar year, cardholders will receive 3X points until reaching a $1,000 spend.
Afterward, all future eBay purchases will yield 5X points per dollar – a bonus rate that expires at the end of that calendar year and must be re-earned each time. Suppose it wasn’t frustrating enough that cardholders are missing out on an extra 2 points per dollar for the first $1,000 they spend at eBay (a return of about $12). In that case, the issue is made even worse: the bonus rate expires each year (December 31st) regardless of when the 5X bonus rate was earned.
This approach spells two problems for two distinct types of eBay shoppers:
- Type 1: Does a moderate amount of shopping throughout the year with no major shopping hauls
- Type 2: Does the bulk of their eBay browsing during the holiday season for gifts
The eBay shopper this would work best for is someone who can front load their eBay Mastercard® towards the beginning of the year, leaving them more time to enjoy a 5X return on items – that is if there’s anything left for them to buy.
International eBay Purchases
Purchases made between international eBay merchants that aren’t in U.S. dollars will only earn 1 point per dollar and will not count toward the $1,000 purchase threshold.
eBay Credit Card Comparison
 eBay Mastercard® |
 PayPal Cashback Mastercard® |
|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards | Up to 5X points per dollar spent at eBay, 2X on gas, dining, and groceries, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 3% back on PayPal purchases, and unlimited 2% back on all other purchases |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 3% |
Redeeming eBay Rewards Points
Points have an individual value of 0.6¢ each and can only be redeemed for purchases, related taxes, or shipping fees at ebay.com once 1,500 points have been reached (the equivalent of spending $500 at eBay). Once this threshold has been met, points can be redeemed towards eBay purchases at any amount with no redemption minimum or maximum.
Cardholders must be logged in to use their points and can do so directly from the checkout page. Select “Your Rewards” at checkout to display the many points available and their dollar value. Note: Points can take up to two billing cycles to post to an account, so they may not be immediately available for redemption.
Forfeiture & Expiration of Reward Points
Reward points expire 24 months (2 years) from the month they were earned; however, they can be lost based on the following cardholder behavior:
- Missing two or more consecutive payments
- Failing to make a purchase with the eBay Mastercard® for 12 consecutive months
- If the eBay Mastercard® account is closed
- If your eBay user account is closed
This process forces cardholders to jump through a considerable hoop before enjoying the card’s full earning capabilities.
Are eBay Reward Points the Same as eBay Bucks?
No, points earned with the eBay Mastercard® are not the same as eBay Bucks. The eBay Bucks Rewards Program is a separate entity that works independently of the eBay credit card and are only issued when shoppers purchase qualifying items (items are indicated with the green eBay Bucks symbol). Rewards points are not restricted to the purchase of specific items and can be earned through all purchases made with the eBay Mastercard®.
Mastercard Benefits
The eBay Mastercard® Credit Card also offers the benefits and protections that come from a Mastercard product. These features include:
| Zero Liability Protection | Mastercard Global Services | ID Theft Protection |
Synchrony Ratings
How does Synchrony stack up as a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for the bank:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
4/5 |
2.5/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the eBay Mastercard® Credit Card?
Retail cards are more prone than other types of credit cards of making cardholders jump through hoops, but even so, the eBay Mastercard® demands more of cardholders than most. In addition to trying to shoehorn cardholders into specific spending behaviors, the eBay Mastercard® fails to offer cardholders much in the way of an enhanced shopping experience – discounted shipping, expedited shipping, exclusive discounts, etc.
The signup bonus is mediocre, and the APR is more of a detriment than a draw, leaving potential cardholders reliant on the card structure itself to provide value – something it does slowly and stingily. The bonus structure of the eBay Mastercard® makes it a poor fit for casual eBay shoppers. Not only does it try to force customers to spend $1,000 by withholding the worthwhile 5X rewards as bait, but it provides a very short time frame for shoppers to do so, pressuring them to adopt a front-loaded shopping schedule, not caring whether that aligns with their shopping habits or needs.
Overall, it is unlikely that anyone besides someone who spends several thousands of dollars a year at the online marketplace (such as a professional eBay merchant) will find the eBay Mastercard® to be worthwhile.
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